Dry-ice press



May 12, 1942.

R. B. DICKEY DRY-ICE PRESS Filed Feb. 2b, 19.41

3 Sheets-Sheet l May l2, 1942. R B, DlCKEY i 2,282,460

DRY- ICE PRES S Filed Feb. 2o, 19.41 s sheets-Sheet 2 May 12, 1942. R. B. DfcKEY DRY- ICE PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 20, 1941 Patented May 12, 1942 DRY-ICE PRESS Robert B. Dickey, deceased, late of Oklahoma City, Okla., by Edith Blanche Dickey, now by marriage Edith Blanche Beasley, executrix, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Elizabeth E. Cummins, Kansas City, Mo.

Application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,857

20 Claims.

This invention relates to dry-ice presses and the object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which liquid carbon dioxide is converted into carbon dioxide snow for refrigeration and other purposes; to press the snow into blocks of uniform density; to saw the blocks into cakes of uniform size convenient for commercial use; to provide means for returning any of the carbon dioxide that may be in a gaseous state to the source of supply for reuse after utilizing its low temperature to facilitate the process of converting the liquid carbon dioxide into snow, and to provide novel means for the automatic and continuousY operation of the machine.

Other objects will hereinafter appear and in` order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accom-Y panying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine taken on line II of Fig. 2.v

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with some Fig. 6 is a broken plan view of a gate and as-V sociated parts.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an electric switch employed in carrying out the invention.

Referring in detail to the different parts, I designates a frame for supporting most of the parts of the machine, including an expansion chamber 2 into which the carbon' dioxide liquid is introduced under pressure through a pipe 3 which extends through a, pipe 3a and leads from a compresser or other source of supply, not shown. The pipe 3 is manually controlled with a valve 4 and automatically controlled by a selfopening valve-plug 5 of conical form adapted to close the inner or discharge end of pipe 3l The valve-plug 5 is xed to the inner portion of a valve-stem 5a which extends outward from the expansion chamber 2 into a tubular casing 5b which is closed at its outer end with a removable plate 5c. The valve-stem is threaded and provided with a nut 5d so that the valve-plug 5 may be adjusted with respect to the adjacent end of the pipe 3. A coil spring 5e is interposed between the plate 5c and the nut 5d to normally ner portion of the valve-stem 5a extends at anangle as indicated at 5f into the path of a plunger 6 having a reciprocatory. motion in the expansion chamber 2 and which, on each forward stroke, contacts the angular portion Efand seats the valve-plug 5 in the adjacent end of pipe 3.

In order to avoid damaging the valve-plug 5 when it is moved to closed position it may" be made of rubber or a softer metal than that forming the pipe 3.

Upon entering the chamber 2, the liquid carbon dioxide quickly expands and the greater portion thereof isrconverted into snow' Which is pressed into refrigerant blocks by the plunger 6,

but any carbon dioxide that maybe in a gaseous state is allowed to pass upward'through a fine mesh screen 8 and perforations 1 and circulate through spaces 9 between theY walls of chamber 2 and a surrounding jacket I0, so that e its low temperature may be utilized to facilitate the refrigeration process in chamber 2 before escaping through an outlet pipe l2whereby it may be conducted back to the source of supply for reuse. end of a chute II which is provided with the perforatlons I and closed at its upper end with a removable cover I3.

Insulation is provided for all parts'l of the ma- 4 chine requiring'insulation against external heat. l'

The plunger 6 is surrounded near its rear end with a packing element I4 vwhich ts snugly in Y' the chamber 2 and prevents any of the liquid carbon dioxide from escaping to the rear of the plunger. A lreciprocatory motion is imparted to the plunger AI5 through a rod I6 xed at its forward end to the plunger and connected at its rear end to a cross-head I5 operating between slideways I 'I, and to which a pitman I8 is pivotally connected. The pitman I8 is actuated by any suitable means such, for instance, as an eccentric 20 xed upon a Vdrive shaft'22 provided with aA xedly mounted worm wheel 24 intermeshing with a worm gear 26 which may be drivenbyV any' suitable prime mover such as an -electricmotor 28 through pulleys 30 and 32 and an endless'belt 34. The rear head 36 of chamber 2 and the jacket Ill is provided with a stuffing-box 38 to prevent leakage of carbon dioxide around the plunger-rod I6 where it extends through A duct 40 extends upward from the rear portion of chamber 2 to one of the spaces 9 to prevent air or gas from becoming trapped between the head 36 and the reciprocatory plunger 6 when the latter is in opera-A hold the valve-plug in open position. The ntion.

The screen 8 issecured to the lower The gate 44.-

upon a table 46 arranged transversely to the, dis` charge opening 42. The top of thetable .46. is provided with'oppositely-disposed longitudinal flanges 48 and 50 which overlap flanges 52 and 54 on the bottom of the gate 44 and constitute a guide for the gate when opening and closing.

The density of the refrigerantjblock is regulated by means of the gate 44, a counter-weight 53 and a leverage system comprising levers 56,

58 and 60 fulcrumed on pivots 62, 64 andV 66 carried by brackets 63, '65 and 6'?, respectively.v

Lever 56, which is horizontally disposed, is fulcrumed at one end on the pivot 62 and provided at its opposite end with a tooth 5'I that projects into a notch near the fulcrumed end of the horizontally disposed lever 58 which is provided at its other end with a knife edge 59 fitting into a notch in the upper end of the lever 68. The counter-weight 53 is suspended from lever 66 which extends transversely to levers 56 and v58 and is in effect a scale beam provided with graduations so that refrigerant `blocks of predetermined densities may be had by moving the counterweight 53 forward or backward upon the lever 6I) which normally rests on a stop 6 I.

The lever 56 is provided near its fulcrumed end with a pivotally mounted detent 68, the forward end of which normally projects into a recess 'I0 in the rear end of the gate Y44 and holds the gate rmlyagainst the discharge end of the expansion chamber 2. When the refrigerant block is compressed to the predetermined densitt7 the pressure of the plunger 6 forces the block to move the gate backward to a slightly open position and, through the detent 68 and levers 56 and 58, overcomes the resistance of the counter-weight 53 and swings the lever 60 upward until it contacts and lifts a pitman 12, against the underside of an oscillatory lever 16. The pitman 'I2 is -connected by a pivot 'I4 to one'side of the gate 44, and 'the lever 'I6 is fulcrumed at 'I'I and has a pin-and-slot connection with lugs 'I8 projecting from the cross-head I5. Y

When the plunger `I5 moves backward on an idle stroke after the gate 44 has been slightly opened, as above stated, thev lever 'I6 is swung to the full line position, Fig. 2, where it is engaged by the notched portion 80 of the raised pitman 12, so that when the plunger 6 advances on its next power stroke the lever I6 will be swung to the dotted line position, Fig. 2, and fully open the -gate 44 to the dotted line position, Figs 2 and'3,

to let the refrigerant b-lock move outward upon the table 46. The ends of the notched portion 80 are slightly undercut to alternately receive the beveled sides of the adjacent end of lever 'I6 and thus prevent accidental disengagement of theVl pitman 'I2 from the lever 'I6 when the gate is discharge end of the expansion chamber 2 and the adjacent end of the gate. During its'opening movement the gate 44 clears the detent 68 and thus relieves the pressure on levers 56, 58 and 60, so that the counter-weight 53 can swing the lever 58 downward out of engagement with the pitman 72. The pressure of the lever 'I6 against the end of notch 88, however, holds the pitman I2 in engagement with the lever 'I6 until the same reaches its dotted line position and starts to move to its full line position, whereupon the pitman is released and-permitted to drop upon the lever 60,

Successive forward movements of plunger 6 add snow to the refrigerant block and move the same outward step by step upon the table 46 until it contacts a gage 84 on the forward end of a rod 86 extending freely through an aperture in one of a lever 88 fulcrumed on a pivot 89 supported by a bracket 90 and bearing at its other end against the upwardly extending arm of a lever 92 having another arm extending forwardly beneath the pitman 12. The gage 84 is yieldably held in its forward position in the lever 88 by a coil spring 8| interposed between lever 88 and a nut 83 threaded upon the rod 86 to tension the spring 8|. A nut 85 is threaded upon the rod 86 to limit the forward movement thereof with respect to the lever 88 and also to provide means whereby the gage may be adjusted forwardly or backwardly. Spring 8| is stiff enough to push the adjacent end of lever 88 back against an adjustable stop 81 when the refrigerant block is forcing the gage 84 backward, but will then yield in the event the refrigerant block continues to force the gage backward until the plunger 6 reaches the end of its forward movement. However, the various parts are so proportioned and adjusted that the plunger '6 will start backward and thus relieve the pressure on the refrigerant block before any damage can be effected. The lever 92 is preferably of the elbow type and fulcrumed at its upper portion upon a pivot 93 supported by a bracket 94.

When the refrigerant block reaches the end of its outward movement its protruding portion isA severed from the main body portion of the block by the circular saw, hereinbefore referred to, which may be driven by any suitable means. the present instance an electric motor 96 is shown for that purpose. Said motor has a drive shaft 98 provided with a pulley |00 which drives a pulley I 82 through an endless belt |84. The saw n 83a and pulley |92 are fixed upon a shaft |86 journaled in the lower end of a swingable arm |88 mounted at its upper end upon a sleeve I I0 through which the shaft 98 extends. An aperture II I is provided in frame I for the passage of `the saw 83a and the arm |88, which latter is connected by a link ||2 to the upper end of an arm |I4 connected at its lower end to the top of the gate 44 by a hinge H6. As the link ||2 is connected to the arm |08 about midway between the ends thereof the arm will swing the saw 83a about twice as far and fast as the travel of the gate, so that the saw will quickly sever the protruding portion from the main body of the refrigerant block, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

To avoid unnecessary consumption of electric VLcurrent the motor 96 is preferably operated only when' the circular saw 83a is swinging either to the dotted line, or the full line position shown by Fig. 3. This may be accomplished by providing the circuit wire I I8 leading to motor 96 with Ta switch |26, shown best by Fig. 7, comprising Contacts |22 and |24. The contact |22 is insulated from but fixed upon a slidable member |26 mounted in guides |28 and provided with teeth |30 for engagement with a tooth |32 fixed to the upper end of the oscillatory arm |08. The contact |24 is slidable in guides |34 and pressed towards contact |22 by a spring |36. The contacts |22 and |24 are so proportioned and arranged that as the arm |08 swings to either the full or the dotted line position, Fig. -'1, the contact |22 will slide beneath the Contact |24 and thus close the circuit to the motor 06 until the arm |08 nearly reaches the end of either of its movements, whereupon it will pass from beneath the contact |24 and thus open the circuit,

Operation-Liquid carbon dioxide under pressure is admitted to chamber 2 through the inlet pipe 3 and on quickly expanding a portion of it is converted into snow and a portion will be in a gaseous state that will flow through screen 8, perforations 1 and spaces 0 so that its low temperature may aid the refrigeration process in chamber 2 before escaping through `the outlet pipe |2. The snow piles up in front of plunger 6, which, on each forward stroke, forces the snow towards the gate 44. As the plunger nears the end of each forward stroke it contacts the inner portion 5f of the valve-stem and seats the valveplug 5 in the end of pipe 3, thus temporarily cutting off the flow of the liquid carbon dioxide. The intermittent ilow thus obtained appears to be more effective in the refrigeration process than when the carbon dioxide is admitted to chamber 2 in a continuous stream. When the snow is compressed into a block of predetermined density against the gate 44 the latter is pushed backward a short distance from the discharge end 42 of the expansion chamber 2 as the plunger approaches the end of a forward or power stroke, and through the medium of detent 68 and the levers 56, 58 and 60 lifts the pitman 12 against the underside of the oscillatory lever 16, which is swung to the dotted line position, Fig. 2. After completing the power stroke the plunger 6 moves backward and swings lever 16 to the full line position, Fig. 2, to engage the notched portion 80 of the pitman 12, so that when the plunger advances on its next power stroke the lever 16 will be swung back to its dotted line position and thus fully open the gate 44. As the gate opens it turns the detent 68 to the dotted line position,

l Fig. 2, whereupon springs 82 immediately push the gate back far enough to leave sufcient space between it and the discharge end 42 of chamber 2 for the passage of saw 83a when swung to the dotted line position, Fig. 3. During its opening movement the gate 44 passes out of engagement with the detent 68, whereupon the counterweight 53 restores levers 60 and 58 to normal or inactive position, thereby allowing the pitman 12 to drop out of engagement with the oscillatory lever 16 and rest upon lever 50 while lever 15 continues to oscillate. Plunger 6, on each power stroke, continues to add snow to the rear end of the refrigerant block and thereby pushes the same outward against the gage 84.

As the refrigerant block movesoutward it pushes the gage 84 backward until it, through the medium of levers 88 and 92, lifts the pitman 12 against the oscillatory lever 16, so that when the latter swings to the full line position it will move the pitman therewith and close the gate' 44. As the gate closes the rotary saw 83a isv from the main body of the refrigerant block. The saw 83a, precedes the gate 44 which pushes the cake of ice or severed portion of the block to the inclined end |40 of the table whereby it is discharged through an opening |3011. in the frame Upon reaching the full line position, Fig. 2, the pitman 12 drops out of engagement with the oscillatory lever 16 which continues to be oscillated by the plunger 6 While the gate 44 and the saw 83a remain at rest until the gatel is again subjected to the predetermined pressure by the plunger acting on the block, whereupon the foregoing operations are repeated. As the cake of ice is pushed towards the inclined end of the table itrmoves out of engagement with the gage 84 which is then restored to normal position through the medium of the levers 88 and 92, which latter is pulled against an adjustable stop by a coiled spring |42 connected at one end to a tensioning screw |44.

When the gate 44 moves towards closed posi` tion its shoulder |32 contacts and restores the detent 64 to its full line position and the weight 53, through the medium of levers 60, 58 and 56, causes the detent 68 to overcome springs 82 and push the gate tightly against the discharge end of chamber 4 to seal the same.

If desired the liquid carbon dioxide may be converted into snow in van auxiliary expansion chamber, not shown, in which event the plate |3, screen 8 and valve 5 are removed so that the snow can be fed into chamber 4 through the chute 1 which may be connected to the auxiliary expansion chamber in any approved manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it is apparent that an automatic machine has been provided which is well adapted for the purpose intended, and although only one form of the invention has been illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification, it is to be understood that all rights are reserved to such changes and modifications of the machine as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is sought to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said charnber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, power driven rotary gearing for automatically operating said plunger, and means foropening said gate when a chamber open at one end, va gate for closing` said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, an eccentric for operating said plunger, power driven gearing forV operating said eccentric, and means controlled by the plunger for automatically opening said gate when the same is subjected to a predetermined pressure by the block so that the latter may be forced outward through the open end of the chamber vby the plunger.

3. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate tor compress the snow into a block, means controlled by the plunger for automatically opening said 4. A machine of the type described comprising 1 a chamber Open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, means for opening the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, and means actuated by the gate for automatically cutting off the outer portion of the block.

5. A machine of the type described comprising achamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, means for opening the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, a circular saw, means for driving said saw, and means controlled by the gate for moving the saw across the open end of the chamber to cut off the outer portion of the block.

6. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gatel to compress the snow into a block, means for opening the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, a circular saw, means for driving said saw, a swingable arm adapted to move the saw across the open end of the chamber to cut off the outer portion of the block, and means connecting the swingable arm to the gate so that the latter may control said swingable arm.

7. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, and a system of levers controlled by the plunger and the gate for automatically opening and closing the latter.

8. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said cham- ,ber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, a pitman connected to the gate, an oscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, and leverage means controlled by the gate for moving the pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever to effect opening of the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber.

9. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, a pitman connected to the gate, an oscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, leverage means controlled by the gate for moving the pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever to effect opening of the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, and means associated with said leverage means for resisting the opening of the gate until the block is forced against the gate at a predetermined pressure.

10. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber vopen at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to coact with said gate in compressing sno-w into a block in the chamber, a pitman connected to the gate, an oscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, leverage means controlled by the gate for moving the pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever to effect opening of the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, and a counterweight adjustably associated with said leverage means for resisting the opening of the gate until the block is forced against it at a predetermined pressure.

s 11. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in'said chamber adapted to coact with said gate in compressing snow into a block in the chamber, a

'the outward movement thereof, means for cutting on" the outer portion of the block, and means controlled by said gage for moving the pitman into engagement with the oscillatory lever to effect closure of the gate.

12. A machine of the type described comprising y a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to coact with said gate in compressing snow into a block in the chamber, a pitman connected to the gate, an oscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, means controlled by the gate for moving the pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever to effect opening of the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, an adjustable gage arranged in the path of the block to limit the outward movement thereof, means for cutting o the outer portion of the block, and leverage means controlled by said gage for moving the pitman into engagement with the oscillatory lever to effect closure of the gate.

13. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate mounted to move backward a short distance and leave a narrow space`between it and the open end of the chamber and also move laterally in reverse directions to alternately cover and uncover said open end, a reciprocatory plunger adapted to coact with said gate in compressing snow into, a block in the chamber and force the gate backward when the block is subjected to a predetermined density, a pitmanconnected to the gate, an oscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, leverage means controlled by the gate for moving the pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever t0 eiect opening of the gate, so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, said pitman being adapted to move out of engagement with the oscillatory lever as the gate reaches the end of its opening movement, a detent pivotally mounted on said leverage means and adapted to abut and hold the gate in closed position but is turned aside by the gate as the same moves laterally to open position, spring means for moving the gate backward to leave the aforementioned narrow space between it and the discharge end of the chamber, and means actuated by the gate and adapted to pass through said narrow space to cut ol the outer portion of the block.

14. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate mounted to move backward a short distance and leave a narrow space between itand the open end of the chamber and also move laterally in reverse directions to alternately cover and uncover said open end, a reciprocatory plunger adapted to coact with said gate in compressing snow into a block in the chamber and force the gate backward when the block is subjected to a predetermined density, a pitman connected to the gate, anoscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, leverage means controlled by the gate for moving the pit- .man into engagement with said oscillatory 'lever to elTect opening of the gate, so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open Lend of the chamber, said pitman being adapted to move out of engagement with the oscillatory lever as the gate reaches the end of its opening movement, a detent pivotally mounted on said leverage means and adapted to abut and hold the gate in closed position but isv turned aside by the gate as the same moves laterally to open posie tion, spring means for moving the gate backward to leave the aforementioned narrow space between it and the discharge end of the chamber, rotary means actuated by the gate and adapted to pass through said narrow space to cut o l the outer portion of the block, a gage arranged in the path of the block, leverage means controlled by said gage and adapted to move the pitman into engagement with the oscillatory lever to elect closing of the gate, and means on the gate for returning the detent to its normal position as the gate moves to closed position.

15. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block and force said block from the chamber, means controlled by the gate and the plunger for opening and closing said gate, a saw for sawing off the protruding portion from the main body portion of said block at a point adjacent tol the open end of the chamber, a `swingable arm for swinging the saw past the open end of the chamber, and means controlled by the gate for actuating said arm.

16. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, agate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block and force said block from the chamber, means controlled by the gate and the plunger for opening and closing said gate, a rotary saw for sawing off the protruding portion from the main body portion of said block at a point adjacent tothe vopen end of the chamber, a swingable arm for swinging the saw past the open end of the chamber, means controlled by the gate for actuating said arm, an electric motor geared to the saw to drive the same, a circuit wire leading to the electric motor, and a switch controlled by the swingable arm and adapted to open and close said switch.

17. In a machineof the type described, an expansion chamber open at one end, means for normally closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber, a pipe for discharging liquid carbon dioxide under pressure into the chamber, and a self-opening valve having a valvestem arranged in the path of the plunger tov eiiect intermittent closure of the valve.

18. A machine of the character described comn prising a chamber open at one end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber, an oscillatory lever actuated by said plunger, a gate for closing the open end of the chamber, a pitman connected to the gate, and means controlled by the gate for moving the pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever to effect opening of the gate.

19. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end,-a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said' gate to compress the snow into a block, an oscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, a pitman connected to the gate, means controlled by the gate for moving said pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever to effect opening of the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, Va gage in the path of the block, and means controlled by said gage for moving the pitman into engagement with the oscillatory lever to effect closing of the gate.

20. A machine of the type described comprising a chamber open at one end, a gate for closing said open end, a reciprocatory plunger in said chamber adapted to force snow against said gate to compress the snow into a block, an oscillatory lever controlled by the plunger, a pitman connected to the gate, means controlled by the gate, for moving said pitman into engagement with said oscillatory lever to effect opening of the gate so that the plunger may force the block outward through the open end of the chamber, a gage in the path of the block, and leverage means controlled by said gage for moving the pitman into engagement with the oscillatory lever to effect closing of the gate. Y

, trim of the Estate of Robert B. Dickey, De`

ceased. 

